THE SHARK. 
ll 7 
The {hark thus fitted by his external conformation for 
rapin and bloodihed, is endowed alfo by nature with a 
courage and aftivity that gives effect to his rapacious in- 
ftinfts. Nofifl), it is faid, can fwim as faft as he; none is 
fo conflantly employed in fwirnming ; fcarcely a ill ip 
erodes the Atlantic, that is not attended by iome of thefe 
rapacious monders, for days together ; and fueh is their 
velocity, that they outftrip the bed failing veffel, and 
play around her without any fymptoms of exertion. 
With fuch voracious appetites, and fuch powers of grati- 
fying them, one would imagine that thefe animals might 
have long fine- deftroyed the inferior tribes, and thinned 
even the ocean itfelf of its inhabitants ; but happily for 
file fafety of the fmaller fifties, thefe plunderers, by the 
Particular fituation of their mouths, are obliged to turn 
Upon their l.de before they can feiz,e their food; and while 
*his evolution is performing, their prey often finds time 
f° efcape *. 
But although tire cievaftations committed by the fliark, 
are thus providentially limited by the aukward fituation 
e f his mouth, dill h is depredations are exteniive, and in 
every warm climate he is the terror of the failors ; for of 
a B kinds of food, he is faid to difeover the dronged pre- 
dilection for human flefh. If by any accident a feaman 
has fallen a viftim to this defiroyer, he is fecn for fome 
fniie afterwards hovering about the fame place, and mak- 
Il! 8 feveral returns to the fpot, expect mg another repad 
°f the fame booty : The wake of a lhip is a favourite re- 
* 0rt with thofe animals, and numbcrlels are the indauces 
In 'Vlftch accident, or the improvident ralhnefs of feamen, 
have 
Goldfmith, 
